The Knee Bone’s Connected to the . . .

It seems that aging inflicts its own indignity on each part of our body. Bone density, for instance, begins to decline after age forty, and the pace accelerates when you reach fifty. That bone loss makes us more prone to fractures and osteoporosis, which is why Aunt Harriet (and Aunt Harriets everywhere) broke her hip.

Fortunately, weight-bearing exercise is particularly good for keeping bones healthy and strong. Pay attention, too, to your calcium and vitamin D levels, and avoid tobacco and too much alcohol.

If you are beginning to notice that exercise seems like a popular solution to many aging issues, you get bonus points for a quick mind. Yes, it’s a recurring theme, and while it may not be what you were hoping for (“The solution? Eat chocolate!”), it beats surgery and pills in oh-so-many ways.